Somebody came striding into the room. I turned. It was Jack Haines come back again. I almost dropped the cup, which I was holding, from my hand in my surprise. He was looking as black as black could be and his manners proved to be in full accord with his looks. "Who is that man?" "What man? What is the matter with you, Mr. Haines? I thought that you had gone." "You know what man I mean--he who has just left your house." "I am at a loss to know how it concerns you. That gentleman is a friend of mine." "He is a thing of evil." "Mr. Haines!" "He is a shedder of innocent blood!" Jack Haines was becoming really charming. I had always known he could be pleasant. I was only just beginning to realise how pleasant he could be when he tried. "Mr. Haines, are you stark mad?" "Woman!" "Sit down." He was raging like a wild bull about the room. "Why should I sit down?" He threw up his hands. "I warn you against that man!" "Sit down!" I pointed to a chair. He sat down--I knew he would--and he looked as if he would like to eat me for forcing him to do it. "Now, Mr. Haines, if you feel that you have, to a certain extent, mastered your excitement, perhaps you will be so good as to tell me what is the meaning of your behaviour." "Nelly----" "To you, Mr. Haines, I am Mrs. Carruth." "Nelly, I say!" In proof of his saying it, he stretched out towards me his clenched fist. "Even at Strikehigh City, I did not think you capable of insulting an unprotected woman." "I'm not insulting you." "If you think not, then your ideas of what an insult is must be your own." He rubbed his hands slowly up and down his knees. He stared at me hard. He shook his head. "It's very hard; it's very hard. Between you and the girl, I'm suffering. The lines have fallen on me, and they're cutting right into my vital places." He brought his hands down upon his knees with a sudden thwack. "I asked you first, before even Daniel said a word to you; I laid myself at your feet." "Was that my fault?" He looked at me in silence. Then he drew the back of his hand across his brow. "No; it was not your fault. I'm not blaming you. It was to be. Some men are made for women's feet to spurn." He paused. "Mrs. Carruth--since it is to be--I mean you well." "Some people's meaning is very badly expressed." "That's me. That's me all through--yes, right along. I ask you again, Who is that man?" "Are you referring to the gentleman who has just been kind enough to come and see me? That is Mr. Townsend." "Then Mr. Townsend is a thing of evil--he is!" He held up his forefinger to me with a warning gesture. I did not interrupt. "When I came near him I knew him for what he was. I saw right through. He is a whited sepulchre. I saw the blood gleaming on his hand. I could not stay where he was. I went outside, and stood on the corner of the street until I saw him go. And when I came back, I found that his presence was still with the house." For my part I was glad that it was--if it was.